“Our investigation revealed that the person who killed the horse did it on the advice of a vet,” said Sgt. Al LeBlanc, a provincial RCMP spokesperson.

“The horse was basically put out of its misery to prevent further suffering,” he added.

LeBlanc was unable to provide specifics as to why it was believed the horse was suffering, who pulled the trigger, if someone admitted to the act, or which veterinarian was involved. He said more information would have been released if charges were laid and the case was dealt with in court.

“Our investigation is complete and there is really no evidence to substantiate cruelty to animals charges,” he said.

On April 15, a complaint was lodged with RCMP stating that two horses had been shot in West Hants.

While it’s uncommon, LeBlanc said, a closed investigation could be reopened if necessary.

“We would have to have new information – new credible information – that would make us reinvestigate a case. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.”

The horses belonged to an untrained herd that Wentworth Road resident Ralph Morash, 76, has been tending to for decades.

The herd started making headlines this past winter when a Facebook page was created to help Morash move the horses from land owned by Fundy Gypsum’s parent company.